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Robert Barnett charged with abduction, theft after B.C. boy found safe in Montana (with video)

Robert Barnett was seen by a man at the local bowling alley

Three-year-old Alvin Barnet was allegedly kidnapped by his father Robert on Nov. 15, 2012. Little Alvin is believed to have been taken to the U.S, possibly Montana.

A three-year-old boy allegedly kidnapped by his father from the Elk Valley region of the Interior Thursday afternoon was found safe in Montana on Friday morning.

Around 7 a.m. Friday, Alvin Barnett was found alive and unharmed on a street in the town of Whitefish, located about 80 kilometres southeast of the Canadian border.

Child services in the U.S. were working to ensure Alvin is comfortably and safely returned at their home near Sparwood, B.C., said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.

“It is our understanding that he is unharmed,” said Moskaluk. “Aside from being tired and hungry, he was found in good condition.”

He said a civilian in Whitefish noticed the suspect and the vehicle after seeing the Amber Alert on Facebook. The person saw the vehicle parked on a side street and local police were alerted.

Police confirmed that the boy’s father, Robert Barnett, 39, was arrested and detained in Montana. He is known to police and has a criminal record.

Barnett is now charged in B.C. with one count of abduction by a parent or guardian and two counts of theft over $5,000, according to online court records.

He has told the U.S. authorities that he does not want to return to Canada and is deciding whether he will fight extradition according to Undersherrif Dave Leib of the Flathhead County Sherrif's Office.

Former Alberta resident Phillip Bruinsma, who reportedly was the person who alerted police, told Global Edmonton that he ran into Robert Barnett on the street Thursday night and that Barnett had asked him for a couple of bucks to get back to Canada.

The next morning Bruinsma saw the alert on Facebook and realized that the man he gave money to was the suspect, so he called police, he told Global.

Earlier Friday, Sgt. Collin Rose with the police in Missoula, Mont., located about 300 kilometres southeast of the border, said authorities received a tip that the boy may have been at a local shop called the Sweetheart Bakery early Thursday evening.

“This is an example of how effective the Amber Alert can be,” said Moskaluk. “Within an hour of the call we had possible sightings and last known location.”

Authorities believe that Alvin and his father crossed the border into Eureka, Mont., sometime before 3:15 p.m. Thursday.

Earlier, an Amber Alert was issued by B.C. RCMP alleging that Robert Barnett was heading south on Highway 93 with his son in a 2002 blue Subaru Outback.

Moskaluk said that police at 3:15 p.m. received the report of a parental abduction after a supervised visit between Barnett and his son at the Red Tree Lodge in Fernie.

4:34 p.m. — Amber Alert sent to The Vancouver Sun email; within one minute it’s posted to The Sun’s website and social media accounts. Within minutes of receiving Amber Alerts, news organizations across Canada send news alerts via email and social media websites.

4:39 p.m. — Transit police email Drew Snider, spokesman for TransLink. Snider said he got off the SkyTrain at the next station, quickly set up his laptop and batted out the alert, which appeared on all big screens at SkyTrain and SeaBus platforms.

4:40 p.m. — Amber Alert flashing on all Coast Mountain Buses. As soon as RCMP received alert, an officer called T-Com. From there, a text message was sent to all bus drivers. Bus drivers then use computer terminal on the bus to activate flashing Amber Alert sign.

5 p.m. — Authorities in Montana (Whitefish police) issue Amber Alert.

5:06 p.m. — BC Trucking Association sends out notice to all its members to keep an eye on the road for the description of the vehicle.

6 p.m. — Police receive tip that Barnett and his son have been spotted near a bakery in Missoula, Mont.

Sometime Thursday night: Canadian Phillip Bruinsma checks his Facebook page and notices Amber Alert. In the morning, he sees the car that was described in the alert parked across the street from his house and calls police.

Shortly after 7 a.m. MST — police apprehend Barnett in Whitefish, Mont. Alvin is taken into care safe and sound.

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